Using peer devices to locate a mobile device
First Claim
1. A method, implemented in a location provider system, for automatically determining location of a querying mobile device, wherein the querying mobile device and a plurality of mobile devices are remote from the location provider system and operate in a cellular communication network, the method comprising:
- electronically receiving at the location provider system, via the cellular communication network, a request from the querying mobile device to determine a location of the querying mobile device;
automatically identifying, at the location provider system and from among the plurality of mobile devices, one or more participating mobile devices that potentially are physically proximate to the querying mobile device, wherein the participating mobile devices are configured to participate in determining location of the querying mobile device;
electronically transmitting, from the location provider system to the one or more participating mobile devices via the cellular communication network, a request to scan communications on a wireless local area network (WLAN) for a location broadcast message transmitted by the querying mobile device;
electronically receiving, at the location provider system via the cellular communication network, one or more location broadcast reports from the one or more participating mobile devices, wherein each received location broadcast report is indicative of the location broadcast message having been received at a corresponding participating mobile device; and
automatically estimating, at the location provider system, the location of the querying mobile device based on (i) the received one or more location broadcast reports and (ii) respective locations of the participating mobile devices from which the one or more location broadcast reports were received.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
To determine the location of a querying mobile device, a request is received from the querying mobile device via a communication network. One or several participating mobile devices that potentially are physically proximate to the querying mobile device are identified. A request to scan for a location broadcast message transmitted by the querying mobile device is sent to the participating mobile devices. One or more location broadcast reports from participating mobile devices are received, where each received location broadcast report indicates that the location broadcast message was received at the corresponding participating mobile device. The location of the querying mobile device is estimated based on (i) the received one or more location broadcast reports and (ii) respective locations of the participating mobile devices from which the one or more location broadcast reports were received.
31 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method, implemented in a location provider system, for automatically determining location of a querying mobile device, wherein the querying mobile device and a plurality of mobile devices are remote from the location provider system and operate in a cellular communication network, the method comprising:
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electronically receiving at the location provider system, via the cellular communication network, a request from the querying mobile device to determine a location of the querying mobile device; automatically identifying, at the location provider system and from among the plurality of mobile devices, one or more participating mobile devices that potentially are physically proximate to the querying mobile device, wherein the participating mobile devices are configured to participate in determining location of the querying mobile device; electronically transmitting, from the location provider system to the one or more participating mobile devices via the cellular communication network, a request to scan communications on a wireless local area network (WLAN) for a location broadcast message transmitted by the querying mobile device; electronically receiving, at the location provider system via the cellular communication network, one or more location broadcast reports from the one or more participating mobile devices, wherein each received location broadcast report is indicative of the location broadcast message having been received at a corresponding participating mobile device; and automatically estimating, at the location provider system, the location of the querying mobile device based on (i) the received one or more location broadcast reports and (ii) respective locations of the participating mobile devices from which the one or more location broadcast reports were received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A location provider system configured to couple to a cellular communication network in which a querying mobile device and a plurality of participating mobile devices operate, the location provider system comprising:
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a participant identification module configured to; receive a request from the querying mobile device to determine a location of the querying mobile device remote from the location provider system, identify one or more of the plurality of participating mobile devices that (i) are remote from the location providers system and (ii) potentially are physically proximate to the querying mobile device, and send, to each of the one or more participating mobile devices via the cellular communication network, a request to scan communications on a wireless local area network (WLAN) for a location broadcast message; and a location determination module configured to; receive, via the cellular communication network, one or more location broadcast reports from the one or more participating mobile devices, wherein each received location broadcast report is indicative of the location broadcast message having been received at a corresponding participating mobile device, and estimate a location of the querying mobile device based on the received one or more location broadcast reports and on respective locations of the participating mobile devices from which the one or more location broadcast reports were received. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method in a mobile device for assisting in determining a location of a querying mobile device, wherein the mobile device is configured to operate in a first communication network and a second communication network, the method comprising:
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scanning for location broadcast messages transmitted via the second communication network, wherein the second communication network is a wireless local area network (WLAN); receiving a location broadcast message from a querying mobile device via the second communication network, wherein the location broadcast message includes an identifier of the querying mobile device; in response to receiving the location broadcast message, generating a location broadcast report corresponding to the received location broadcast message; and transmitting the location broadcast report to location provider system via the first communication network for determining the location of the querying mobile device, wherein the location provider system is remote from the mobile device and the querying mobile device, and wherein the first communication network is a cellular network. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification